A/N: THIS IS IT, THE FINAL CHAPTER OF THIS STORY. I'M SO SAD. I HOPE YOU'VE ENJOYED READING THIS STORY AS MUCH AS I'VE ENJOYED WRITING IT. PLEASE REVIEW WITH YOUR FINAL THOUGHTS. OF COURSE I HAD TO LEAVE YOU WITH A LOT OF ANGST, DID YOU REALLY EXPECT ANYTHING LESS. I'M NOT SURE HOW POLICE AWARD MEDALS, BUT THIS SOUNDED GOOD TO ME. OF COURSE, THEY DON'T BELONG TO ME IN REALITY, ONLY IN MY IMAGINATION.

CHAPTER 40: ONE YEAR AFTER

The day was Wednesday May 17, 2006, one year ago to the day. The day their lives were changed forever. Jordan woke up early, thinking about Woody. She turned over to look at him, he was sleeping so peacefully now. He had a nightmare earlier, she knew that, she felt his shoulders tense up under her arm and his breathing become rapid against her chest, so she did what she always did; she held him tighter and ran her fingers through his hair until it passed. Not wanting to wake him, Jordan quietly slipped out of bed and went to the kitchen. She made a pot of coffee and sat at the kitchen table thinking about how he would deal with today. What should she say to him? How should she act around him? There wasn't much time to think about that, as soon as she opened the newspaper, she heard the sounds of him waking down the hall.

When she came back into the bedroom, Jordan found Woody laying on the bed with his hands behind his head, starring up at the ceiling. She brought with her a glass of water and his morning meds, he was down to three meds, twice a day. He pulled himself up and took his medication. "Ready?", she questioned, prepairing to help with his morning exercises. "I guess so.", he answered softly. The rest of the routine continued in silence. When they finished with his therapy, Jordan gave Woody her hand as she helped him sit on the edge of the bed. She sat next to him and put her arm around his waist, he laid his head on her shoulder.

"So what do you want to do this morning? It's getting late, no time for our run.", Jordan pointed out caressing his back with her hand. "I want to go back.", he stated, snuggling closer. "Are you sure?", Jordan asked, cautiously. Woody nodded. "You know it's not there anymore.", she said, getting his chair; he wasn't able to support himself without the braces and crutches. "I need to see it for myself. I need to be there, to stand there.", he added factually. "Okay.", Jordan agreed.

Late that morning, they drove across town, to the empty lot. Jordan parked the car, handed Woody his crutches, and helped him out. She walked next to him as he slowly and unsteadily made his way across the uneven ground. Woody stood there for a while, starring at the piece of barren land that once housed the rundown building. Jordan could tell he was replaying that day in his head, as he did almost every night. It was always the same; he remembered running up the stairs, the swat team yelling all clear, the creak, the room, the kid, the bullet slicing through him,then nothing, no pain only red. Jordan put her arm around him, he took a deep breath and swallowed hard. "It's like it was never even hear.", he muttered as they turned to leave.

That afternoon was the awards ceremony, something else about this day Woody was not looking forward to. He was a quiet, humble man who never liked attention drawn to him, especially in a room full of a hundred or so people; accepting an award and medal he didn't think he deserved. Jordan on the other hand, thought he deserved a thousand medals for everything he had been through and would have to go through for the rest of his life. "Here's our table.", Jordan exclaimed, pointing to the sign Det. W. Hoyt and Family. The table sat Woody, Jordan , Calvin, Max, Lily, Nigel and Bug. With one extra chair for Garret. "Dr. M. won't be here for the dinner, but he wouldn't miss the awards ceremony. He's got a morgue to run, you know.", Nigel explained, patting Woody on the back.

The table was bustling with conversation as Woody nervously sat thumping his fingers against his plate."You okay?", Jordan asked as she took his hand. "Fine. I just don't want to be here.", he mumbled back. A female voice called out from across the room, "Woody", she waived and walked closer, baby on her hip.Woody smiled back and waived, he grabbed his crutches and leaned forward to stand, when she called out again, "Oh don't get up.". He leaned back, grateful as he thought of his aching back. She bent down to kiss him on the cheek, it was Kristen Collins, Officer Collins' widow.

"You look wonderful. It's nice to see you up and around.", she exclaimed. "Only for a few hours a day. It's not as easy as it looks.", he chuckled, nodding to his crutches. "And back to work I hear.", she commented, shifting the pudgy baby to the other hip. "Limited duty, mostly desk work, interrogation, the occasional call. Lois Carver is my partner, he said pointing to her table, No more chasing the bad guys.", Woody shrugged. " Leave that to the rookies.", Kristen laughed. The baby started to fuss. "She's beautiful.",Woody commented. "Would you like to hold her?", Kristen asked. "Oh I'd love to.", Woody replied. She handed him the baby. Jordan melted at the sight of Woody holding the baby. "How old?", she asked. "Nine months, today actually.", Kristen added. "She looks like her Daddy.", Jordan commented, playing with the baby's fingers. "Yeah, the spitting image. She has his personality, too.", Kristen recalled lovingly. "What's her name?", Woody asked as she smiled wide at him, drooling all over his hand. "Hope Elizabeth.", Kristen stated, handing Woody a burp cloth. Hope, "Well it was very nice to meet you Hope Elizabeth.", Woody said kissing her chubby pink cheek and handing her back to her mother as dinner began. "It was great to see you again Woody, we'll talk after. Andrew will be so happy to see you.", Kristen said as she returned to her table.

After dinner the four honorees were asked to come up to the front , the families of the three slain officers, and Woody. Jordan went up with Woody and proudly stood next to him as the captain made an appropriate speech, then gave the families the posthumous awards and medals. He then came to Woody, "Detective Hoyt, it is my honor to present to you, this medal for bravery in the line of duty.", the captain said as he handed Jordan the plaque and pinned the medal on Woody's suit jacket. Woody looked down at the medal as the captain patted his shoulder and stepped aside. The entire room stood and erupted in applause, Woody looked into the crowd to see his family. He turned to Jordan who was clapping as hard as she could. "I don't deserve this.", he stated softly. "Of course you do.", she insisted. "I would give it all back if it would bring them back.", he said looking over to the officers families. "I know that Woody, everyone in this room knows that, and we all love you for it.", Jordan said, letting the tears fall. Woody nodded a thank you to the crowd as he and Jordan made their way back to the table.

One year ago today, Woody Hoyt would have never dreamed this would be his life now. In twelve short months he had lost a lot, gained a lot and learned a lot. This anniversary was the end of a difficult and defining chapter in his life, but it was also the beginning of a fresh new one. He was finally able to move ahead with life, no matter what it brought, and not look back.

A/N 2: PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU WANT ME TO CONTINUE WITH THIS STORY, BECAUSE I ALREADY HAVE A SEQUEL IN THE WORKS. I'LL MISS HEARING FORM ALL OF YOU, SO TAKE CARE AND GOD BLESS.